Baptisia plant named ‘Burgundy Blast’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct plant cultivar of hardy herbaceous False Indigo plant named  Baptisia  ‘Burgundy Blast’ characterized by flowers that open up dark wine-purple beginning in late May and continuing for two weeks. The new plant has a narrow, medium height, upright, vase-shaped, multi-stemmed, winter-hardy habit with glaucous dark-green tri-foliate foliage and is suitable for landscaping as a specimen or en masse.

Botanical classification: Baptisia hybrid.

Cultivar designation: ‘Burgundy Blast’.

STATEMENT REGARDING PRIOR DISCLOSURES UNDER 37 CFR 1.77(B)(6)

Baptisia ‘Burgundy Blast’ was promoted in a non-enabling descriptionsand photographs on a website operated by Walters Gardens, Inc. on Feb.1, 2021, followed by the “Walters Gardens 21-22 Catalog” initiallydistributed by Walters Gardens, Inc. on May 21, 2021. The first enablingdisclosure of Baptisia ‘Burgundy Blast’, in the form of a sale, was madeby Walters Gardens, Inc. on May 17, 2021 to Phoenix Perennials, MonroviaNursery, Wildflower Farms and Renegade Acres. Information and plants forthis sale and all sales thereafter were obtained from the inventor. Noplants of Baptisia ‘Burgundy Blast’ have been sold, in this country oranywhere in the world, nor has any disclosure of the new plant beenmade, more than one year prior the filing date of this application, andsuch sale or disclosure within one year was either derived directly orindirectly from the inventor.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of hybridBaptisia plant, botanically known as Baptisia ‘Burgundy Blast’ and willbe referred to hereafter by its cultivar name, ‘Burgundy Blast’, and thenew plant. The new plant represents a new false indigo, a hardyherbaceous perennial grown for landscape and cut flower use.

‘Burgundy Blast’ arose from an ongoing breeding program of the inventorat a wholesale perennial nursery in Zeeland, Mich. with the specificintention of improving garden worthiness of perennial false indigoplants with a wider variety of flower colors and improved garden habit.

Baptisia ‘Burgundy Blast’ was a single seedling selection from a crossbetween a proprietary unnamed, unreleased hybrid selection of Baptisiaminor (not patented) as the female or seed parent times a proprietaryunnamed, unreleased hybrid selection of Baptisia alba (not patented) asthe male or pollen parent. The cross was performed at the same nurseryin Zeeland, Mich. with the seeds collected on Aug. 23, 2011. The seedswere then sown the same nursery in Zeeland, Mich. on Oct. 6, 2011. Theinitial selection made in the spring of 2013 at the same nursery inZeeland and later given the breeder code 11-11-11.

‘Burgundy Blast’ was initially asexually propagated by stem cuttings ata wholesale perennial nursery in Zeeland, Mich. in 2015. The resultantplants have demonstrated that the new plant has remained stable and trueto type in successive generations of asexual propagation.

The nearest comparison plants known to the inventor are: ‘Grape Taffy’U.S. Plant Pat. No. 26,587, ‘Pink Truffles’ U.S. Plant Pat. No. 26,588,‘Violet Dusk’ U.S. Plant Pat. No. 32,553, ‘Lavender Stardust’ (notpatented) and ‘Plum Rosy’ U.S. Plant patent application Ser. No.17/300,370.

‘Grape Taffy’ is much shorter and more compact in habit and the flowersare reddish-purple with a buff-yellow keel. ‘Pink Truffles’ is tallerand broader in habit with soft pink flowers having a yellow keel.‘Violet Dusk’ is slightly taller in height and width and the flowers arelavender-violet with cream-colored keels. ‘Lavender Stardust’ has ataller vase-shaped habit, but the flowers have a pale-yellow keel withthe lilac-purple banner, and the inflorescence is much longer. ‘PlumRosy’ has a slightly larger habit and flowers that open a soft-yellowand turn to a dusty raspberry-purple.

Compared with plants of Baptisia minor known to the Inventor, the newplant is taller in habit and has a longer inflorescence. TypicalBaptisia alba typically has white flowers. The female parent has blueflowers on a more compact plant and the inflorescence is longer. Themale parent has a similar habit, but the flowers are pure white, lateropening, the inflorescences are longer and the peduncles are lightgreen.

The new plant differs from all Baptisia known to the inventor in thefollowing combined traits:

-   -   1. Flowers open dark wine-purple and retain their color through        the effective season;    -   2. Flowering begins late-May in Michigan and continues for about        two weeks;    -   3. Narrow, medium-height, upright, vase-shaped, multi-stemmed,        winter-hardy habit;    -   4. Glaucous, dark-green, tri-foliate foliage.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The photographs of ‘Burgundy Blast’ demonstrate the unique traits of thenew plant and the overall appearance. The colors are as accurate asreasonably possible with color reproductions. Variation in ambient lightspectrum, source and direction may cause the appearance of minorvariation in color. The accompanying photograph is of a six-year-oldplant growing in an open full-sun trial garden in Zeeland, Mich.

FIG. 1 shows the habit of a plant in full flower.

FIG. 2 shows a close-up of the inflorescence.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

The following is a detailed description of six and ten-year-old plantsof ‘Burgundy Blast’ as grown outdoors in a trial block at a wholesaleperennial nursery in Zeeland, Mich. Plants of the new cultivar have notbeen tested under all possible conditions. The phenotype may vary withchanges in environment, climate, and cultural conditions without changehowever in the genotype. The color references are in accordance with the2015 edition of The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart exceptwhere general color dictionary terms are used.

-   Plant habit: Perennial, compact, well-branched, many-stemmed,    vase-shaped growth habit with long inflorescences held above the    foliage;-   Plant size: Stems and crown about 28 cm across at soil level, at    flowering about 76 cm tall from soil to top of flowers and 94 cm    wide just below initial flowers; at maturity plant foliage height    about 105 cm tall and about 108 cm wide;-   Roots: Fibrous, well-branched, long, deeply rooted;-   Root color: Nearest RHS 161D;-   Propagation method: Stem cuttings, rooting in about three weeks;-   Growth rate: Moderate to average;-   Stems: Rigid and upright; highly glaucous; glabrous; cylindrical    with shallow longitudinal furrows; lower two to three nodes without    leaves or branches; normally two to three branches per plant below    flowers; about 60 stems per clump;-   Stem size: Main stem to about 9 mm diameter at base and 105 cm tall,    average about 96 cm long and about 8 mm diameter; to about 48 cm    long from soil to below initial flowers;-   Stem branches: Primary branches at 45 to 60-degree angle above    horizontal, up to 30 cm long and 5 mm diameter, average for primary    branches about 24 cm long and 4 mm diameter, smaller distally; and    two to four alternate secondary branches per stem of about 16 cm    long and 3 mm diameter, averaging about 12.5 cm long and 3 mm    diameter;-   Stem color: Variable, nearest RHS N77C, and between RHS 138A and RHS    194B;-   Stem scales: At stem nodes; lanceolate; emarginate to retuse apex    with sharply pointed sides; truncate clasping base; margin entire;    dehiscing to leave behind thin scar on stem; about 18 mm wide at    base and 21 mm wide in center; about 28 mm long and 2 mm wide in    center of apex; Stem scale color: variable, nearest RHS N186A, RHS    148C and between RHS 146B and RHS 147B before dehiscing;-   Internodes: Up to 13 cm apart between lowest branches, average about    9 cm;-   Internode color: Between RHS 138D and RHS 148D with frequent marks    of nearest RHS N186A;-   Foliage: Alternate; ternate to palmately compound with three    leaflets; outer two leaflets independent, at nearly 90-degree angle    to middle leaflet; up to 7 cm long and 9.5 cm wide;-   Leaflet: Three; oblanceolate; apex acute, base cuneate; margins    entire; petiolate; adaxial and abaxial surfaces matte, glabrous;    slightly glaucous adaxial and glaucous abaxial; middle lobe to about    5.2 cm long and 2 cm wide, side lobes about 4.8 cm long and 1.8 cm    wide;-   Leaflet color: Newly expanding adaxial nearest RHS 146B with a light    blush concentrated around margin of nearest RHS N186C, abaxial    nearest RHS 147C; mature adaxial nearest RHS N138B, abaxial nearest    RHS 147B;-   Venation: Pinnate, glabrous, thin, not conspicuous;-   Vein color: Newly expanding foliage adaxial midrib nearest RHS 138B    and abaxial nearest RHS 147C; mature adaxial midrib nearest RHS 138C    and secondary veins nearest RHS N138B, abaxial midrib lighter than    RHS 145D and secondary veins same nearest RHS 147B;-   Petioles: Glabrous; slightly glaucous; cylindrical; to about 6 mm    long and 2 mm wide at base, average 5 cm long and 1.5 mm wide;-   Petiole color: Adaxial nearest 146D, abaxial nearest RHS 147B;-   Stipules: Narrowly lanceolate, acute apex with base truncate; to    about 22 mm long and 8 mm wide, average 20 mm long and 6 mm wide    with largest stipules below primary branches and decreasing distally    and on secondary branches;-   Stipule color: Nearest RHS 138A both surfaces;-   Peduncle: Cylindrical with vertical shallow ridges and furrows;    glaucous; glabrous; from first flower to apex about 25 cm long;    diameter at the base of first flower about 3.5 mm and about 2 mm    diameter at the apex;-   Peduncle color: Between RHS N187A and RHS N186B in the flowering    portions;-   Pedicel: Cylindrical, glabrous, glaucous; about 9 mm long and 1 mm    diameter;-   Pedicel color: Between RHS 189A and RHS N186B;-   Calyx: Campanulate; four-lobed; to about 12 mm long, 9 mm tall and    11 mm across at apex;-   Sepals: Four; one larger dorsal, one ventral and two lower lateral;    acute apices; fused into tube in proximal 9 mm; margin entire;    glabrous adaxial and abaxial; dorsal sepal to about 12 mm long and 7    mm wide at fusion; other three sepals to about 12 mm long and 4 mm    across at fusion;-   Sepal color: Adaxial between RHS 144B and RHS 144A with moderate    distal blushing of nearest RHS N77C; abaxial nearest RHS 148B with    moderate blushing of nearest RHS N77C distally;-   Buds one day prior to anthesis: Oblong elliptic, flatted vertically;    to about 25 mm long and 9 mm tall and 7 mm wide, slightly smaller in    distal flowers;-   Bud color: One day prior to opening exposed keel petal blend between    RHS 79D and RHS N77D, enfolded banner petal between RHS 79D and RHS    N77D, exposed alae petals between RHS 145D and RHS 150D;-   Flower: Zygomorphic, papilionaceous, non-secund, held at about    45-degree angle above horizontal; about 33 flowers per main raceme    and about 12 per secondary branch; seasonally effective for about 2    weeks beginning in late May in Zeeland, Mich.; individual flowers    remain effective and on raceme for about four days; individually to    about 26 mm long, 17 mm tall and 18 mm wide at largest portions;    consisting of an upper banner, a lower keel made up of two lobes    folded around gynoecium and androecium; and two lateral wings or    alae laterally appressed against keel;-   Flower fragrance: None detected;-   Petals: Five; with a lower fused keel, an upper banner, and two    lateral wings or alae; keel comprised of two sections that are    folded around stamens and pistil;    -   -   Banner petal.—Conduplicate, reflexed upward and backward and            pinched in the middle; apex retuse, base claw-like, margin            entire; to about 22 mm long, 12 mm across natural width, 21            mm wide flattened spread and 8 mm tall; with rounded            emarginate apex notched about 4 mm deep; basal portion            attenuate claw-type, 5 mm long and 3 mm wide.        -   Banner color.—Adaxial between RHS N77B and RHS 79D with claw            base nearest RHS 145C; abaxial between RHS N80D and RHS            N79D, center nearest RHS N77D with claw nearest RHS 145C.        -   Keel.—Comprised of two main lobes that are folded around            stamens and pistil; fused in the distal one-third with the            apex emarginate or retuse and the bases separate and            claw-like; margin entire; top edge about one-third of the            way from base has 2 mm smaller lobe pointing toward base;            about 23.5 mm long and 11 mm tall and 2 mm wide; blade            portion to about 18 mm long and 10 mm tall, with claw to            about 7.5 mm long and base narrowed to 2 mm wide for the            proximal 3 mm.        -   Keel color.—Adaxial base nearest RHS 145D, dorsally nearest            RHS N77B and ventrally nearest RHS 11D; abaxial keel ventral            portion between RHS 158D and RHS 11D and dorsal portion RHS            N77B, base nearest RHS 145D;        -   Alae.—Two; papilionaceous corolla appendage with rounded            apex and claw-like base; with 2 mm long by 2 mm wide lobe            pointing toward base and about one-third of the way from            base; about 23 mm long and 10 mm tall with the claw to 3 mm            wide at base of blade and 2 mm wide at base and 8 mm long;            blade about 14 mm long and 10 mm wide.        -   Alae color.—Adaxial claw base nearest RHS 145D; main blade            portion and lobe nearest RHS N77D; abaxial claw base nearest            RHS 145D, small lobe and main lobe portion nearest RHS 145D.        -   Mature keel and upper banner.—Between RHS N77B and RHS 79D.-   Receptacle: Disk-shaped, about 4 mm diameter and 1.2 mm depth; color    nearest RHS 138A;-   Gynoecium: One, with superior ovary and stipe; to about 23 mm long;    -   -   Style.—Cylindrical; glabrous; slightly glaucous; tapered and            curved near stigma, about 9 mm long and about 0.7 mm            diameter above ovary; color between RHS 150D and RHS N144D.        -   Stigma.—About 0.2 mm diameter; color nearest RHS 150D.        -   Ovary.—Superior above hypanthium, suspended by stipe; about            7 mm long and about 1.5 mm in diameter; color between RHS            150D and RHS N144D.        -   Stipe.—Cylindrical; glabrous; slightly glaucous; about 5 mm            long and 0.7 mm diameter; color between RHS 150D and RHS            N144D.-   Androecium:    -   -   Stamens.—Ten.        -   Filament.—Glabrous; slightly lustrous; not united 21 mm in            length and about 0.5 mm in diameter; slightly curved upward            distally; color nearest RHS 150D.        -   Anther.—Dorsifixed, oblong; about 2.0 mm long and 1 mm wide;            color nearest RHS 17A.        -   Pollen.—Spherical; abundant; color nearest RHS 17A.-   Fruit: Bivalve inflated ellipsoidal pod; glabrous; about 33 mm long,    20 mm across and 14 mm thick; with thin, linear, arcuate, terminal    beak about 3.0 mm long and about 1 mm thick; rounded base,-   Fruit color: At maturity between 200A and RHS 202A;-   Seeds: About 8 per pod (open pollinated); reniform; glabrous; about    4 mm long, 3 mm across and 2 mm thick; color nearest RHS N199C;-   Hardiness: To USDA zones 4 to 9; tolerant of heavy clay or light    loamy-sand soils; able to withstand drought conditions once    established;-   Diseases: Susceptibility or resistance to diseases beyond that    typically found in other false indigo plants has not been observed.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Baptisia plant named‘Burgundy Blast’ as herein described and illustrated.